Match booklet



April 13, 1937. H. sPlRA.

MATCH BOOKLET Filed Dec; s; 1934 2 `shams-smet 1.

i Patented Apr. A13, 1937 UNITED STATES PATE-NT oFFlcE MATCH BOOKLET Henry Spira, New York, N. Y.

Application December 8, 1934, Serial No. 756,584

11 Claims.

'This invention relates to match booklets, and an object thereof is to provide a cheap and readily made match book which is safe in use.

It is a further object of the invention to provide 5 a match booklet which is made from one piece of pliable inflammable material having, in any state and position of the booklet, igniting surfaces remote from the tips of the matches which are not in use. l A further object of the invention is to provide a match booklet with 'side' portions cut into matches and folded towards theinte'rior of the cover in which the side portions cannot be turned to the. outside by inadvertence. A further object of the invention is to provide a match booklet with a device integral with the material from which the booklet 4is made, for locking it in its closed state.

The invention consists in the particular con- J0 struction or arrangement of the side portions each having a tab integral therewith between the roots of the matches and the fold of the pertaining side portion and side cover. These tabs render the basis for some or all of the following features: One l5 or both of the tabs are provided with igniting material in a manner, that the igniting surface of one tabfaces the other tab origniting surface of the other tab when the booklet is closed; the side portions are glued to the adjacent' side covers by 30 tabs; and a member of a lockingdevice is integrally made' out of one of said tabs.

Further objects and details will be apparent from the following description and accompanying r drawings of examples embodying the invention. J" In the drawings are- Fig. 1, a view of a part of a band from which a match booklet is made, with the tabs as per the invention, o Fig. 2 a side view of a match booklet as per the invention on a larger scale,

Fig. 3 a cross-section of another form of a booklet along the line 3-3 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 4 a section along line 4-4 of Fig. 5, 45 Fig. 5 a section along line 5`5 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 a section along line 6-6 of Fig. 4, Figs. '7 and 8 sections along line 1-1 similar to Figs. 5 and 6 of another form of the invention on a smaller scale; Fig. 7 viewed in the direction of 5 the arrows of Fig. 9, and Fig. 8 viewed in the reverse direction,

Fig. 9 a cross-section of Fig. '7 along the line 9 9, and

Fig. 10 a sectional view of a part of another 55 form of the invention.

(Cl. G-29) In Fig. l, a portion of the band is shown from which the match booklet as per the invention is made'. The band I consists of a pliable, inam-A mable material as for instance cardboard. The width of the band is subdivided by creases or folds 5 2, 3, 4, 5. As a convenient step of the manufacturing procedure, the band is also divided into' pieces of suitable length by a cutting or tearing operation along lines 'I. A match booklet, therefore, essentially consists of two side portions 8 10 and 9 and reaching from the edges of the band to the creases 2 and 5 respectively, two side covers I0 and II boarded by the creases or folds 2 and 3, and 4 and 5respectively, and a back I2 between creases 3 and 4. Greases 3 and 4 may be lacking 15 since the back I 2 may be made by merely bending the back I2 into shape. 'I'he side portions 8 and 9 are provided with incisions I3 extending from the edges of the band to the dotted lines I4 and I5 respectively in order to form match strips I8 20 with preferably tapered tips I9 provided with ignitible material.- Along lines I4 and I5 perforations may be made in order to facilitate the breaking of the match strips. 4

The roots of the match strips I8 are connected 25 integral with the tabs I6 and I1 respectively, which are bordered by fold 2 and dotted line I 4, and by fold 5 and dotted line I5 respectively. One of the tabs I6, I1 o r preferably both, are provided with igniting material 25. 30 I The match booklet is brought into shape by turning the side portions 8 and 9 over along 2 and 5 respectively (downward with regard to the plane of the drawing) in such a manner that the side portions 8 and 9 are backed by their adjacent side covers I0 and Il respectively, and the side covers are turned over along the lines or creases 3 and' I in such a manner that an igniting surface 20 of one tab I6 or I1 faces the other tab, or if both tabs are provided with igniting material, that the igniting surfaces face one another.

Means are provided for holding the side portions 8 and 9 constantly backing their respective side portions, l0 and II in 'order to prevent the side 45 portions of the nished booklet from being turned back at the creases 2 and 5 respectively. Such back turn would be objectionable because it would allow the match tips of one side portion to rub against the igniting surface of the other side por- 50 tion when the booklet will be folded together again after a match has been taken therefrom.

Furthermore it might happen that the user,

A through inadvertence, folds the booklet in such a manner that for instance side portion 8 and side 55 cover I0 enclose side portion 9 and side cover II. In such a case side portion 8. lying on the outside of side cover II could contact other utensils in the bearers pocket. Moreover a side portion, if not correctly folded in, could obstruct the closing of the booklet by abutting with its match tips against the opposite side portion. For this reason, the back surfaces of the tabs are glued to the inner surfaces of the adjacent side covers or fastened thereto by other suitable means.

In this manner, the tips I9 of the match strips are always kept remote from the igniting surfaces with the exception of the match broken off for use.

In order to prevent the side covers and side portions of the booklet from being ajar or from being opened by inadvertence, I provide a locking device for the booklet in its closed state,and as it is an aim of this invention to keep the costs of production as low as possible, I make this locking device integral with the booklet. Either one or both of the tabs I6 and I1 partake of its formation.

Fig. 2 shows a booklet match as per my invention in a simple form, that means in a form which needs very few operations in manufacturing. The side covers IU and H are connected by the back I2. The side portions 8 and 9 are folded at 2 and 5 respectively, and the tabs I6 and I1 are provided with igniting surfaces 20 and glued with their back surfaces 2| and 22 to the interior surfaces of their adjacent side covers I0 and II. Fold 2 with the lower parts of side cover I0 and tab I6 is turned over to r form a ledge 23 against which the edge of the fold 5 abuts in a closed state of the booklet. The strain of the material in the bends 3 and 4 exerts a slight pressure where the edge and the ledge contact one another which is sufcient to keep the booklet closed. Moreover, the highest points of the ledge 23 may be placed a little bit higher and more remote from the non-folded part of the tab I6 than the lowest points of the fold 5. Thus, the booklet can be easily closed by just pressing the outer covers between the thumb and another finger of one hand. Furthermore, if both tabs I6 and I1 are provided with igniting surfaces 20, a, match is struck between them While a slight pressure is exerted on the side covers. The same pressure closes and locks the booklet as soon as the match has left it. This is particularly advantageous from the viewpoint of safety, because the booklet is almost entirely closed while the match is struck, and from the viewpoint of 'economy because the material of a match pulled while being struck may be thinner than that of a match subjected to pressure during the striking operation.

In the form of Fig. 2, the length of the matches may differ in such a manner that the match tips do not contact one another in the booklet. Furthermore, side cover l0 with adjacent tab I6. must be considerably longer from fold 2 to 3 than the other side cover II with adjacent tab I1 from fold 5 to d in order to make the ledge 23. I prefer, therefore, the form as illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 in which the difference vof length is much smaller. There is even the possibility of making the side covers of equal length if only the back of the booklet is bent asymmetrically.

In this form, the booklet comprises again the side covers IIl and II, back I2 and side portions with the folds 2 and 5, the side portions forming match strips IB and tabs I6 and I1. Two of the incisions I3 by which the match strips I 8 are made, extend through the tab I 6. The part 24 of the tab between these two incisions 25 and 26 is folded to form a tongue or ledge like projection 21 against which the edge of the fold 5 of the other side cover I I and tab I1 is capable to abut in a similar manner as against the ledge 23 in Fig. 2. What is left of part 24 when the projection 21 is made, is glued to the side cover I0 as are the remaining parts of tab I6, and I prefer to provide glue also Within the fold of projection 21. If this is not sulcient, a short part of the match strips, connected with part 24, may also be glued to side cover I0, dotted line 28 indicating the extension of the glued surface. If the glue is applied to that part of the side cover I0 which is engaged by tab I6 the glue will naturally stick to matches 29 between incisions 25 and 26 to the same height as, the remainder of tab I6. In any case, the matches 29 appear to be shorter than the other matches I8. It is of no importance whether the igniting material 20 is applied to the tab I6 before or after the projection 21 is made and whether or not the projection 21 is covered with such ignitlng material.

In form of embodiment illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9, the tongue-like projection 21 of the locking device is made in a similar manner as in Figures 3 to 6. The side cover II, however, having approximately the same length as the side cover IIJ is provided with a hole 30 which is adapted to receive the projection 21 when the booklet is closed. The projection then snugly flts into the hole and keeps the booklet locked.

Another way of making a locking projection, is shown in Fig. 16. There, the side cover II) is provided with two slots 3| and 32, the Width of which corresponds with the width of one match strip 33. Tab I6 has incisions like 25 and 26 in Fig. 5 which are extensions of the incisions adjacent to the match strip 33. The projection 21 is folded in the above described manner and the match 33, which is an extension of the projection 21, is laced through the holes 3I and 32 of the side cover I0. This form saves the necessity of gluing the remainder of tab part forming the projection 21 to the side cover I 0. The shortening of match 33 may not be a great drawback since the match strips are usually of sufcient length to allow the lacing as shown.

What I claim as new is:- v

1. A match booklet made of one piece of pliable inflammable material comprising two side covers, two side portions cut into matches connected at their roots, a fold between each side portion and adjacent side cover, tabs integral with the side portions between the roots of the matches and the folds, said tabs being provided with igniting surfaces facing one another when the booklet is closed; means for fastening each tab to the adjacent side cover, and means for locking the booklet in its closed state, said locking means being integral with the material of the booklet, and .at least a portion of one of said tabs being a part of said locking means.

2. A match booklet made of one piece of pliable inilammable material comprising two side covers, two side portions cut into matches `connected at their roots, a fold between each side portion and adjacent side cover, tabs integral with the side portions between the roots of the matches and the folds, the folded edge of one of the side portions and its adjacent side cover turned over towards the other side portion forming a ledge adapted to abut and exert a slight pressure against the fold of the other side portion and side cover in the closed state of the booklet.

3. A match booklet made of one piece of pliable inammable material comprising two sidecovers, two side portions cut into matches connected at their roots, a fold 4between each side portion and portions between the roots of the matches and the folds, the tab of one of the side portions being i'olded parallel to the fold of the-side portion and side cover, forming a ledge adapted to abut and exert a slight pressure against the folded edge of the other side portion and side cover in the closed state of the booklet.

4. A match bookletmade covers, two side portions cut into matches connected at their roots, a foldbetween each side portion and adjacent side cover, tabs integral with the side portions between the roots of the matches and the folds, and a locking device for the booklet in its-closed state, the tips of part ofthe matches of one side portion being out of line with respect to the tips of the remaining matches, and material of the tabs in connection with the out-of-line part of the matches forming a member of the locking device.

5. A match booklet made of one piece of pliable inilammable material comprising two side covers, two side portions provided with incisions to form match strips'cpnnected at their roots, a fold .between eachside portion and adjacent side cover, tabs integral with the side portions be-A tween the roots of the matches and the folds, and a locking device for the booklet in its closed state; two of the incisions of one of the side portions extending through its tab. theA material of the tab between the two extensions of the incisions forming a member of the locking device.

6. A match bookletmade of one piece of pliable inflammable material comprising two side covers, two side portions provided with incisions to form match strips connected at their roots, a fold between each` side portion-and adjacent side cover, tabs integral with the side portions between the roots of the matches and the folds, and a locking device for the booklet in its closed state; vtwo of the incisions of one of the side portions extending'through its'tab, the material of the tab between the two extensions of the incisions being folded in form of a tongue-like -ledgeadapted to abut against the folded edge ofthe other side portion and side cover.

7. A matchbooklet 'made of one piece of pliof one piece of pliable inflammable material comprising two side able inammable material comprising two side covers. two side portions provided with incisions to form match strips connected at their roots, a fold between each side portion and adjacent side cover, tabs integral with the side portions between the roots of the matches and the folds, and a locking device for the booklet in its closed state; two of the incisions of one of the side portions extending through its tab, the material of the tab between the two extensions of the incisions being folded in form of a projection; the other side portion and side cover` being provided with a hole corresponding with the projection' adapted to ll said hole when the booklet is closed.

8. A match booklet made of one piece of pliable inflammable material comprising two side covers, two side portions provided with transverse incisions to form match strips connected at their roots, a fold between each side portion and adjacent side cover, tabs integral with the side portions between the roots of the matches and the folds, and a locking device for the booklet in its closed state, one of said side covers being provided with two longitudinal incisions parallel to the fold, one of the strips formed by two of the incisions'of the pertaining side portion, laced through the longitudinal incisions of the side cover, and the Vpart of the tab connected with the laced strip forming a member of the locking device projecting towards the other side portion when the booklet is closed. i

9. A match booklet made of one piece of pliable inflammable material comprising two side covers, two inwardly folded tabsnnatch strips extending from said tabs and tapered at their tips, both tabs being providedvwith igniting surfaces facing one another in a closed state of the booklet, means for fastening each tab to the surface of its adjacent side cover, and at least a portion of one of the tabs forming a locking member forfthe closed booklet.

10. A match booklet as claimed in claim l in which the tab from which the locking means is made,l is larger than the other tab.

1l. A match booklet made of one piece of pliable I inflammable material comprising two'side covers,

two inwardly folded tabs each fastened tothe surface of its adjacent side cover, match strips ex- I said projection adapted to engage said recess.

HENRY SPIRA. 

